Carols in the Domain is an annual AustralianChristmas concert event held in the Domain Gardens in Sydney. It began in 1983, and features many national and international performers and guest appearances. It is a free event, broadcast around Australia on the Seven Network, and simulcast previously on Smooth FM and currently, on the Hit Network since 2023.[1] The event was held on the last Saturday before Christmas Eve until 2015,[2][3] before moving to the last Sunday before Christmas Eve since 2016,[4] and has been held on the third Saturday in December since 2021.[5] Carols in the Domain has become one of Australia's largest free Christmas events.[6]
History
Carols in the Domain was started in 1983 by former Qantas employee Robyn Anne Hobbs, who observed Christmas carol events in Australia and wanted to develop one for Sydney.[7] In an article in The Sydney Morning Herald, she said "I suppose I started Carols in the Domain from a purely selfish point of view because I'm an only child and Christmas and birthdays were always wonderful occasions to celebrate and yet Sydney didn't really have a major Christmas celebration." She chose The Salvation Army as the corresponding charity. The first Carols event in 1983 was attended by 15,000 people.[8][9] Hosts of the event have included presenters of morning program Sunrise particularly David Koch and Natalie Barr who have co-presented on several occasions, previous presenters have also included Andrew Daddo (on seven occasions), Grant Denyer, (5 occasions), Kate Ritchie, (3 occasions) and Barry Crocker, on (3 occasions).
Hobbs was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM – General Division) in 2009 for services to the community in founding Carols in the Domain and her fundraising efforts for the Salvation Army[10]
The main sponsor is designated with naming rights.[11] In 1989, the main sponsor was Esso.[12] In 1996, the main sponsor was Pacific Power, however, because the government had split up the company, they could not fund the sponsorship, but the state government stepped in to sponsor the event,[8][13][14] pledging over AUS$300,000.[15] The event was televised for the first time to New Zealand on TVNZ and Southeast Asia on Australia Television.[14]The Sydney Morning Herald also became a sponsor for the event.[16]
In 1997, the naming rights sponsor was RAMS Home Loans.[17][18] In 2004, the event was called "The Good Guys Good Kid Carols in the Domain".[19] In 2005, the naming rights were assumed to be The Good Guys again,[20] but Woolworths acquired the naming rights and renamed the event to "Woolworths Carols in the Domain",[21] and has retained the name since.[11]
As a mark of respect, organisers of the 2014 Carols in the Domain considered cancelling the event because of the Martin Place siege which took place in Sydney earlier that week, but instead decided to hold it, on Saturday 20 December.[22] The 2014 Carols attracted approximately 80,000 people, and also included a tribute to those killed during the siege.[23]Mark Vincent opened the evening by singing You Raise Me Up in honour of the victims, and a minute silence was held.[24]
In December 2020 it was announced that the 2020 event would be held inside, at the Aware Theatre without any audience as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and then televised on Wednesday 23 December on Channel 7.[25][26]
Carols in the Domain supports both The Salvation Army and The Salvation Army OASIS Youth Support Network through the sale of candle bags during the performance.[27] Oasis seeks to assist homeless youths aged between 16–24 in the inner city of Sydney with emergency housing, case management and training.[28]
List of past events
All events have included a visit by Santa Claus, and music from local orchestras and choirs.
Ghillian Sullivan, Roger Lemke, Hugh Jackman, Monica Trapaga, Home and Away stars, Madison McKoy, Disney Channel's Mickey, Minnie, Chip and Dale, Santa Goofy, Pluto, Donald, The Wiggles, Janice Breen Showgroup
Belinda Emmett, CDB, Marie Johnston, David Hobson, Peter Cousens, Dan Tullis Jr., Simon Gallaher, Georgie Parker, Peter Combe, Georgie Parker, Troy Cassar-Daley, John Rowe, Leigh Archer, Janice Breen Showgroup, The Wiggles, Disney Channel (ft. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers, Pocahontas, Meeko, Aladdin, Jasmine, Baloo and Louie from TaleSpin)
Tina Arena, Yvonne Kenny, Christine Anu, Tim Campbell, Rachael Beck, Adam Brand, Troy Cassar-Daley, Songbirds, Raggs, The Wiggles, Doug Parkinson, Human Nature, Paulini, Janice Breen Showgroup, David Hobson, Ricki-Lee Coulter, Ross Wilson, Alvin and the Chipmunks
Sydney Youth Orchestra, The Salvation Army Choir, Australian Girls Choir, Jubilation, Australian Contemporary Singers
Samantha Jade, Dami Im, Mark Vincent, Taylor Henderson, Lee Kernaghan, The McClymonts, Adam Garcia, Judith Durham, cast of Wicked the Musical, The Wiggles, Jay Laga'aia, Georgie Parker, Marlisa, Nathaniel Willemse, Paulini, Christine Anu, Doug Parkinson
The Salvation Army Choir, Australian Girls Choir, Jubilation Gospel Group
Adam Brand, Cyrus Villanueva, Georgie Parker, Jay Laga'aia, Dami Im, Johnny Ruffo, Justice Crew, Justine Clarke, Ky Baldwin, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, Mark Vincent, Nathaniel Willemse, Samantha Jade, Swing on This, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, cast of The Sound of Music, The Wiggles
Jessica Mauboy, Dami Im, Paulini Curuenavuli, Harrison Craig, The Wiggles, Swing on This, John Paul Young, Leo Sayer, The McClymonts, Georgie Parker, Todd McKenney, Shannon Noll, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Mark Vincent, Ky Baldwin, Jay Laga'aia and his 7/8 kids, Isaiah Firebrace, Natalie Ong, stars of Australian Opera
The Salvation Army Australia Choir, The Australian Girls Choir, Jubilation Gospel Group and dancers from the Janice Breen Performance Studio.
Dami Im, Todd McKenney, Big T, stars of Australian Opera, Adam Harvey & Beccy Cole, Mickey Mouse, Jay Lag'aia and his 7/8 kids, Lucy Durack, Samantha Jade, Justice Crew, Penny McNamee, cast of The Wizard of Oz: The Musical, Jersey Boys, Michael Cormick, Justine Clarke, The Wiggles, CBD, Katie Noonan
The Wiggles, Penny McNamee, Jack Jones, Rachael Beck, Ashleigh Rubenach, the leads from Muriel's Wedding the Musical-Natalie Abbott & Elizabeth Esguerra, Troy Cassar-Daley, Mickey Mouse, Todd McKenney, cast of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the Musical, Ross Wilson, Thirsty Merc, Paulini Curuenavuli, Isaiah Firebrace, Matt Lee, The Tap Pack, Mark Vincent, Samantha Jade, stars of Australian Opera
The Salvation Army Australia Choir, The Australian Girls Choir, Jubilation Gospel Group and dancers from the Janice Breen Performance Studio, the Sydney youth orchestra
Paulini, Penny McNamee, Vanessa Amorosi, Shannon Noll, Adam Brand, Lucy Durack, Harrison Craig, Todd McKenney, Mark Vincent, Mirusia Louwerse, The Wiggles, Mickey Mouse, Ashleigh Rubenach, Olina Loau, Jay Laga’aia and family, Hans the German
The Salvation Army Australia Choir, The Australian Girls Choir, The Sydney Male Choir, the Sydney Youth Orchestra and dancers from the Janice Breen Performance Studio & ED5 International
Hugh Sheridan, Penny McNamee, Todd McKenney, Shannon Noll, Leo Sayer, Rachael Beck, Mark Vincent, Amber Lawrence, Stephen Madsen, Ashleigh Rubenach, The Wiggles, The Tap Pack, Samantha Jade, Drummer Queens, The cast of Frozen the Musical, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Annie Jones, Robbie Williams
The Sydney Youth Orchestra, The Salvation Army Choir, dancers from Janice Breen Performance Studio & ED5 International, The Australian Girls Choir
Carrie Underwood, Mark Vincent, Phil Burton, Penny McNamee, Stefanie Caccamo, Violeta Bozanic, Big T, The Wiggles, Isaiah Firebrace, Samantha Jade, Jordan & Sian Fuller, Bella Taylor Smith, Jay Laga’aia, Melinda Schneider, Paulini, Mickey Mouse & Minnie Mouse, Young Stars of Australian Opera,
The Sydney Youth Orchestra, The Salvation Army Choir, dancers from Janice Breen Performance Studio & Brent Street, The Australian Girls Choir
Andrea Bocelli, Mark Vincent, Phil Burton, Chloe Zuel, Rachael Beck, The Leads from Moulin Rouge! The Musical- Alinta Chidzey & Des Flanagan, Leo Sayer, Rhonda Burchmore, The Wiggles, Todd McKenney, Samantha Jade, Silvia Colloca, Lachie Gill, Paulini, Hugh Sheridan, The Cast of Cinderella the Musical, Tom Burlinson, Mickey Mouse & Minnie Mouse, Young Stars of Australian Oprea,
The Sydney Youth Orchestra, The Salvation Army Choir, dancers from Janice Breen Performance Studio & ED5 International, The Australian Girls Choir, Rejoice Gospel Choir
^"About Oasis". Salvation Army. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
^"Christmas Carol Services". The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 December 1986. Metro, p. 10. Archived from the original on 26 February 2014. A two-hour Christmas concert with 25 artists including the Sydney Conservatorium Orchestra and Chorale, Playschool host Don Spencer and the Young Sydney Singers. Dec 20. 7.30 pm.
^Howell, Ann (16 December 1986). "An A to Z for Christmas Cheats". The Sydney Morning Herald. Goodliving, p. 1. Archived from the original on 26 February 2014. C is for Carols in The Domain – a good way of avoiding pre-Christmas home entertaining. Get to the spot in front of the Art Gallery well before 7.30 pm on December 20. That is when 25 celebrities (including Normie Rowe, Jackie Love and the Fabulous Singlettes) and the Sydney Conservatorium Orchestra, the Conservatorium Choir and Chorale will be there.
^"Arts News". The Sydney Morning Herald. 18 March 1989. Spectrum, p. 89. Archived from the original on 26 February 2014.
^Conway, Andrew (4 December 1993). "Travel". The Sydney Morning Herald. Leisure, p. 118. Archived from the original on 26 February 2014.
^Blanks, Fred (3 December 1993). "Short takes". The Sydney Morning Herald. Metro, p. 3. Archived from the original on 26 February 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
^"Sydney's hotlist". The Sydney Morning Herald. 22 December 1995. Metro, p. 3. Archived from the original on 26 February 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
^Wood, Miranda, ed. (12 December 1999). "This Week". Sun Herald. Time Out, p. 24. Archived from the original on 26 February 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
^"The performers". The Sydney Morning Herald. 18 December 1999. News/Features, p. 150. Retrieved 21 February 2014 – via Newspapers.com.